General News
6 June, 2023
Plea for Yungaburra garden plan
A DEDICATED group of Yungaburra residents have made a plea to Tablelands Regional Council to develop a Garden Plan for their town to enhance its reputation and character that makes it one of the most visited centres in the region.
Known for its popular monthly markets and streets lined with flowering hanging baskets, the community want to enhance its appearance further with a properly laid out plan for the garden areas of the town.
Leading a deputation to council, Yungaburra Association treasurer Rolf Straatemeier said the town’s gardens left much to be desired in terms of the species growing in the street plots and the upkeep of those areas.
“Now is the time to revaluate the gardens of Yungaburra,” he told councillors.
“We’re asking that a plan be developed for gardens around town – the state of the gardens around town, specifically Cedar Street, is not ideal.
“In some of the garden plots, the weeds are higher than the plants.”
He showed a number of pho-tographs of the current gardens, pointing out the inappropriate species of plants, particularly the use of the agave plant, which he believed originated from the de-serts of Mexico.
“And we really question why we have plants from the deserts of Mexico or overseas in a tropical Tableland town,” Mr Straatemeier said.
“I probably understand the reasons why – the low cost – but they are not attracting birds, not attracting bees, more likely to at-tract spiders.”
He also advised there were issues with vehicles, such as the mail truck, gaining access along Cedar Street due to the height of the trees.
“These are some of the issues – the trees are too large, it’s challenging for large vehicles or caravans to move down Cedar Street, and council doesn’t appear to be able to keep up with the maintenance of the gardens.
“I understand we have had a lot of rain this year and we are not critical of the teams doing the maintenance work – they are doing a fantastic job.”
He said Cedar Street was now the main thoroughfare to access the popular Petersons walking track which was visited by national and international visitors and should be enhanced to ensure the best experience for those visitors.
Mr Straatemeier also asked council whether it had a policy on what type of plants were used in public gardens.
Cr Dave Bilney later advised that council was currently in the process of developing a a policy that would help inform the “why, when and how” in relation to the planting of trees or other plants in public areas.
Division 4 Cr David Clifton, who represents the Yungaburra area, said he wholeheartedly agreed with the desire to develop a proper garden plan for the town and has started some discussions to see how that could be achieved.
